Seating arrangement for passenger vehicles



Jan. 21, 19147.

H. A. FLOGAUS riledmly 27, 194s lNvENToRs /Vawar .Flaydus IBMP/QATTORNEY 2,414,730 sEAT1NG` AREANGEMENT EOE PASSENGER VEHICLESPatented Jan. 21, 1947 oFFicE SATING ARRANGEMENT FOR PASSENGER` VEHICLESHoward A. Flogaus, Wallingford, Pa.,assignor to ACF-Brill MotorsCompany, New York,` N. Y.,` a

corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1943, serial No. 496,280 l3 Claims.

This invention relates to passenger vehicles in general and inparticular to such vehicles adapted to run on highways.

In order to meet certain State requirements it is necessary for highwaypassenger vehicles operating in interstate commerce to be limited inWidth. With the Width limitation it has been found almost impossible toprovide a double seat for a highway vehicle having a width equaling orexceeding thirty-eight inches While maintaining a minimum aisle passage.This, of course, is based on the conventional practice of placing theseats transversely of the vehicle with the passengers line of visionnormal to the front of the vehicle. In a conventional passenger vehiclewith the seats normal to the side walls, the passenger adjacent the sidewall is frequently very uncomfortable due to the cold in winter and heatin summer, and in case passengers of average or greater than averagesize are seated together, it is necessary for the wall passenger tocrowd the aisle passenger, with the result that the latter must leantoward or crowd out into the aisle space. Furthermore, since the onlyarea of vision for the tWo passengers in a seat is through a commonwindow, it is sometimes embarrassing and unpleasant for the wallpassenger since such passenger is in the line of vision and exhalationof the aisle passenger. It is an object, therefore, of the presentinvention to provide -a passenger vehicle in which the line of vision ofadjacent passengers is directed through separate windows, and privacyincreased.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a passengervehicle having seats arranged in a forwardly inclined directiony to theend that both aisle and wall passengers may have greater shoulder space.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a passengervehicle having the seats inclined forwardly to the end that greater seatwidth may be obtained within Xed overall dimensions while maintainingstandard aisle widths.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a passengervehicle having the seats arranged at an angle to the side walls with thebacks at a substantial distance from the side wall, thereby providingspace for substantially 4triangular parcel shelves arranged between theinner ends of the seats and the side walls.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to personsskilled in the Var-t from a study of the following description andaccompanying drawing, in which view through the road vehicle disclosingthe seat-V.

ing and parcel shelf arrangement;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of thevehicle with parts broken away tobetter disclose the end con# struction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view disclosing the specific' mounting of theseatsA upon the vehicle door, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through, the vehicle and disclosing Itheposition of occupants ofthe inclined seats. I A

Referring now to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the vehiclechosen forpurposes-of illustration is a highway vehicle commonly termeda bus. This vehicle may be of conventional contour having side Walls S,roof R, front F, 'back B and licor A all mounted on wheel and axleassem; blies W. As clearly shown in Fig.' 1, the seats'are formed inpairs to provide a Wall seat' 2 and aisle seat 4. Each of the seats isprovidedwith a back Q6 and an armrest 8L The seats are inclinedforwardly` that is, toward the side walls, thus plac-`- ing the leadingor cushion edge I 'of each 'seat adjacent the VehicleV side wall S. Inthis manner the backs are thrown out away from the side wall asubstantial distance and the space between the arm rest of the wall seat2 and the wall may be occupied by substantially triangular shaped parceltrays I2. These parcel trays may be located in any horizontal planedesired but it is preferred that they be located beneath the windowopenings later to be referred to. In some cases it will be founddesirable to make these parcel trays solid and place them even with orslightly below the arm rest of the wall seat` 2, thus providingadditional arm rest space for the wall passenger if he should desire touse the same instead of for parcels, magazines, etc.

The side wall S is provided with any suitable number of window panes I4framed in any suitable manner to provide windows for ventilation, lightand observation purposes. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, passengersP seated in the inclined seats will have their line of vision L directedthrough separate panes I4; that is lines normal to the central part ofseat backs I6 will pass forwardly and outwardly through separate panesI4. In this manner the passengers are given a better view of theterritory through which the vehicle is passing and the wall passengerneed not be subjected to discomforts arising from the aisle passengerwatching scenery through the same window pane that the Wall passengeruses.

The inclined seats may be supported in any 3 suitable manner on thevehicle floor, such as by the 'customary pedestal arrangement. It willbe advantageous, however, to mount the seats on a platform and inaccordance with the teaching of Mathauer 2,261,693. Accordingly, theseats have been-shown as mounted on a platform elevated above thefiner-:anda having a seatL supporting portion 2li, a foot rest portion2-2 and-'a riserpor-l tion -24. The aisle edges 2E of this raised andsawtooth form platform are of irregular form, thus permitting greateraislefspace, for thefin.- sertion and removal of luggage 282 In additiontothe luggage space provided beneath the raised platform it will be seenthati inclination: off the seats provides a greater rear luggage spacesince the rear seats do not extend straight across the vehicle but at anacute ang-lato.;thesidewalls.

It will be seen from the preceding description that inclination andstaggering of the seats trans-A versely of the vehicle permits ofincreased seat width.r within. overall"flirnitatiens,vv while.` at.; thesame` timepermittingl:thezoccnpants al clearfvision forwardly and ata:sligfhharigle tothe." direction of? travel and; throughz ind.ependent,1window panes. It'. will. further be;- seen; that;v the;Y inclination`of'` the seats forwardly at an acute angle tothessid'e walls willithrow. the, passangers; shouldersrand trunk alwayfrom; thefsidewallathusgiving the Wall passenger more shoulder space and removing. his1bodyaway from the cold; or: hot'sidegwall, dependent: upon the. seasoniofthe year; The in clination of the seats at an acute, ang-le? tdt-he.side Walls also penn-its. the. installation; of'k small parcel; traysandpermits thevwall: passangen toV make: fult use-` of. thevarm rest;sincef it is: not: jammedtight against the: side-wwallf; as. in. con..-ventionali vehicles; All ofi these' tend tog givethe passengery muchgreater'ridihgr comfort, freedom andrin .a sense greater privacy..

ylifl'iileetlie,constructionhbeendescribedfinore or less in` detail.with. specific:v reference to the' figures-itz will; be: apparent that,slight; :nlodificau tions. in'constru'cti'on arrangement. of. parts maybezv madey and: all-sucia modifications -ancl changes are' contemplated:ast will fall. Withinsthe scopa-.of therappendedf claims deningmy invention.

4 What is claimed is:

- 1. A passenger vehicle having side walls and a floor, saw-tooth formplatforms supported on the floor in spaced relation thereto and earchlocated adjacent a side wall to provide an aisle space therebetween, thepeak portions of said platforms being; atteneid* and arranged instaggered: relation transversely of' the vehicle and at an acute angleto the side walls whereby lug gage may be more readily inserted beneathsaid peak..portions,v and seats arranged on said peak portions instaggeredrelationship transversely of the vehicle and at an acute angleto the side walls.

. 2., fr'passengervehicle having side walls and a v1l'oor,.saw--toothform platforms supported on the oorin spaced relation thereto and eachlocated vadjacent' a side wall to provide an aisle space therebetween,said platforms having flattened seat supporting peak portions arrangedin staggered relationV transverselyY of.. the-vehicle and atan: acute.angle,- tovthe. side-wallsE whereby lug.-l gage may be more readilyinsertedzbeneatlsi.- saidpeaky portions, saidT arrangement! being such ias toresultfin. the provision ofv increased. luggage space in.. the rearofsaidvehilaformeell impart by the, rearmostOfsaidseat-supportingplat-fforms. v Y

V3. A- passenger vehiclehavingia floon; andA side wallshavinga-plurality of window= panes therein, sawtooth forma platforms.supported on the; floor in spaced relation thereto' andeachelocatedadja-` ,cent a side wall. to.` provide an aislespaceftheref between,theV peak portions, of., said saw-toothV platforms' being. flattenediand,` arranged.` in4 stag'-Y gered relation transversely ofi the4Vehicle: and, at an acute. angle. to. the sidef walls i wherebyluggagemay` be rnorereadilyl inserted beneathsaid; peak. portions and doubleseats arranged: on:y said; peak'. portionsim staggeredyrelationshiptransversely of the Vehicle and. at anacute angle, tothesidewalls, said angle being so chosen thatlthe. lines normal tothecentral portion: of each:` seat; baclewill beA substantially paralleland extend forwardly through 4independent. windowv panes omtheadj a centside of thevehicle.

Howie-RD A.' FLoGaesi.

